Combining world-class dance training with creative storytelling using Breaking, DJing, MCing, Graffiti and Knowledge. BreakNation is not not only known for their exhilarating performances but also host for hosting Dance workshops, educational programs within Schools. Amazingly, they have also done community outreach choreography for stage productions, music videos, weddings, as well as dance jams.

Otakukon Anime Festival is a Harare based pop culture urban festival that celebrates anime, comic books gaming and movies. Adding dance with the BreakNation crew furthers Otakukons intention steps into growing the festival as a pop culture event and not just an anime convention. We have build a place that many fans of anime, manga and Japanese culture can call home and we believe there’s still hope to grow it even further.

Phase 2 tickets are available now

Sunday 23 August 2026
Moto Republik, 3 Allan Wilson Avenue
10am – 9pm
Available from Click n Pay and Flippin Tickets

Click n Pay Tickets
Dial *788# and follow the prompts

Buy your tickets via WhatsApp by sending “Hi” to +263785552326

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Why the Kids Corner is Important

It could have been the realization that there were a significant number of attendees were millenials and most of us are parents now. It could be a desire to see the media that we love passed on to the next generation. A desire to have shared memories with our children. What we ackbnowledge as Otakukon though, is that we can’t all enjoy the festival in the same way. The young ones have unique and sometimes simple ways to enjoy life. We set out to look for a way to give the little ones an enjoyable experience at Otakukon Anime Festival. Letting the parents enjoy the con as well is a bonus.

Colouring Station

Who doesn’t enjoy a good colouring session? We do and so have all the young ones who have come to Otakukon. We’ve seen amazing experessions of art as well as great interactions and little lifetime friendships. We’ve gone a step forward and used the colouring pages to introduce the kids corner to local characters. Not just local but also some of our beloved pop culture characters and IP.

Kids Corner Jumping Castle

If we had 10 of these, we still wouldn’t have enough. Also because the grown ups want a castle of their own. The jumping catsle provides a great place to let the little ones use up all their energy. We’re investing in early bedtimes whenever parents come with little ones to Otakukon. We have several volunteers managing the space as well so that they are attended while they bounce. Until they shout, “Look mom!” At this point we’re tagging you back in.

Kids Cosplay and The Takuji Award

The Cosplay competition at Otakukon is competitive and the mainstay of the event. Over the past year we have seensome of the best cosplays we have ever seen in Zimbabwe. It’s no surprise that we are happy to see young attendees start to take part in the cosplay showcase as well. Their energy and smiles are some of the best things for us and we hope we continue to get more and more cosplayers among the little ones. The Takuji award (named after Takuji Anata) is our promise to always acknowledge ALL the young cosplayers who take to the stage for the cosplay showcase. Please encourage the little ones to become their favorite characters for the day. Whether it’s Marvel, DC, anime, manga, or even games!

We still have a long way to go in building the ideal kids corner at Otakukon. We hope that over the coming events we will be able to partner with more corporates who care about children and family. When that day comes we will continue to invest in the future of pop culture fandoms and the Kids Corner at Otakukon.

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Rue Rusere is the last of her mother’s four daughters. Raised in a world that taught her both tenderness and resilience, she learnt early to observe, to question and to feel deeply.Writing became her way of making sense of quiet injustices, unspoken truths and the everyday moments that often go unnoticed. Through her work, she gives voice to stories that many live but few dare to tell.The Society That Laughs is her first published collection ..a reflection of the world as it is, and as it could be, if only we chose empathy over indifference.She is a Supply Chain graduate from the University of Zimbabwe and continues to pursue both storytelling and analytical work with equal passion.

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An Academy Award-nominated animated film, hands-on onigiri making with a Japanese chef, and a manga mentorship booth headline an expanded Japan Culture Corner at OKAF 2026

HARARE, ZIMBABWE — Otaku Konnect is proud to announce that the Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe will once again collaborate with OTAKUKON Anime Festival, returning as a key cultural partner for OKAF 2026. This year’s festival takes place on Sunday, 23 August 2026, at Moto Republik Hub, Harare, and is expected to welcome between 500 and 700 attendees.

This marks the second year of the Embassy’s involvement with OKAF, building on the success of the Japan Culture Corner at OKAF 2025 — a vibrant, interactive space that became one of the most visited areas of the festival. Last year’s corner brought traditional Japanese games, calligraphy lessons, and green tea tasting to the Harare audience, with stalls hosted by Study in Japan for Africa and JICA Zimbabwe. The energy and curiosity it drew confirmed what Otaku Konnect has long believed: Zimbabwean audiences have a genuine and growing appetite for authentic Japanese cultural exchange.

For 2026, that vision grows in scope, ambition, and heart.

A Surprise Academy Award-Nominated Film Comes to OKAF

The Embassy of Japan has facilitated the screening a surprise short animated film produced by one of the leading animation studios in the world. The film itself is an exciting show of the animation culture that surrounds the community.

Bringing this short film to OKAF 2026 is a rare and meaningful moment for Zimbabwean audiences — a chance to experience world-class animation in a community setting, surrounded by fellow fans of the art form. More details surrounding the actual film will be shared closer to the event.

Make Your Own Onigiri with Chef Arakida

Among the most anticipated activations at this year’s Japan Culture Corner is a hands-on onigiri-making experience, where attendees will get to craft their own Japanese rice balls from scratch. The activity will be led by Chef Arakida, the Embassy’s own Japanese chef — bringing a level of warmth, expertise, and authenticity that turns a fun activity into a genuine cultural moment.

Whether it is a first encounter with Japanese food culture or a beloved favourite revisited, the onigiri station promises to be one of the most joyful spots on the OKAF floor.

The Manga Booth: A Space for Zimbabwe’s Next Generation of Storytellers

OKAF 2026 will also see the launch of a dedicated Manga Booth, developed in partnership with the Embassy of Japan and powered by two of Zimbabwe’s accomplished comic and manga artists. The Manga Booth at OKAF 2026, is fully funded by the Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe, financing the consultation of professional artists to ensure this section of the event is free to attendees.

Bill Masuku — creator of Tokoloshe Hunters and Captain South Africa, and an artist with Disney and Netflix animation and storyboarding credits — will be on hand alongside Eli Ngundu from AfroTokyo, creator of Kalabash and one of the leading voices in African manga publishing. Together, they will offer aspiring artists a rare opportunity to sit across from published creators and have real conversations about the craft: how to develop a story, how to get published, and what it takes to bring an original voice into the world.

Attendees will also have the chance to create their own manga pages at the booth, turning inspiration into ink on the day.

“The Manga Booth is something we’ve wanted to build for a long time,” said Archie Moyo, Festival Director of OKAF. “Zimbabwe has extraordinary creative talent. What so many young artists are missing is not the ability — it’s access. A conversation with Bill or Eli could genuinely change someone’s trajectory. That’s the kind of thing OKAF should be doing.”

A Partnership Rooted in Community

The collaboration between Otaku Konnect and the Embassy of Japan reflects a shared belief that culture is one of the most powerful tools for building understanding, connection, and aspiration — especially among young people. The Japan Culture Corner at OKAF has become a space where anime fans discover calligraphy, where students learn about study opportunities in Japan, and where Zimbabwean and Japanese communities find genuine common ground.

With an Oscar-nominated film, a master chef, and two of Africa’s most exciting manga artists all under one roof, the 2026 edition promises to be the most immersive and inspiring Japan Culture Corner yet.

About Otaku Konnect

Otaku Konnect is the organising body behind Zimbabwe’s leading nerd culture and Japanese pop culture events, including OTAKUKON Anime Festival (August), Button Bash Gaming Convention (April), and Nakamarket Market Festival (December). Since 2023, Otaku Konnect has hosted over 15 events Zimbabwe, reaching audiences across the country and earning coverage from Reuters, VOA Africa, and NewsDay.

Media Contact

Archie Moyo |  Festival Director, Otaku Konnect

archie@otakukon.com  |  otakukon.com  |  @Otakukonnect

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The artist performances at Otakukon will be unlike the standard performance based event. We are giving oppportunities to the artist within the community already. Over the years we have slowly build programs that give chances to the different forms of art within our community. Cosplayers, illustrators, comic book artists and dancers have all gotten opportunities to showcase their work on our different platforms. This time we would like to see some music, dance and maybe poetry take to our stage.

To make this happen, we will be announcing an artist call through our social media platforms will applications available via our website. We are excited to have this program in place and to see the various talents that will ultimately be showcased on the stages at Otakukon Anime Festival 2026.

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Wynona Mutisi is a Harare-based illustrator, layout designer and art director. Wynona has a background in fine art with a special focus on printmaking, digital art and bookbinding. She works for a pan-African newspaper called The Continent. She recently won an Award of Excellence from the Society for News Design for one of her newspaper cover illustrations. 

Her practice is largely a mix of slice of life illustrative work and visual journalism using colour to convey beauty in both the mundane and thematically heavy subjects. Outside of the newspaper, Wynona’s work includes projects with global institutions and newsrooms such as Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Global Press Journal, Oxford Brookes Poetry Centre, and Tufts University. When she is not making art, Wynona enjoys writing about art and visual culture in Africa.

Come meet Wynona at OTAKUKON. If you are an aspiring illustrator or just started on your journey with illustration, you will not want to miss our talk with Wynona. As Otakukon we love being able to bring individuals who can contribute to the space and to young aspiring attendees. Listen to her talk and engage her afterwards to get notes on how to start your journey as a profesional illustrator, the tools you need and anything else. Make sure to check out our program once it is out to see what time she will be on so that you can plan accordingly.

We are happy to have her and we are sure she will offer great value to our crowd.

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The Otakukon Anime Festival is Zimbabwe’s biggest anime focused event. The next event will be the 4th iteration of the event. In 4 events, this event has marked it’s place as a home for anime, manga and Japanese pop-culture event. A great event that focuses on giving attendees an amazing experience and partners great value.

OKAF 2026 promises to be an upgrade on last year’s event, with the Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe returning to breath life into the Japan Culture Corner. This is a section of the event that is managed by the Embassy during the event and allows attendees to step into Japan by experiencing traditional Japanese games, caligraphy. This year the embassy has promised two addition really interactive activities that you can read about here.

We also expect the colourful cosplay competitions to take over for August with the Otakukon Cosplay Championship taking place at OKAF 2026. The Championship is Zimbabwe’s largest cosplay competition and Otakukon will be announcing a special partnership to make the competition even better than past competitions. At Button Bash 2026, we saw the Otaku Konnect team awarding more prizes in the DIY cosplay segment with a new appreciation going directly to Best Armor, Best Needlework and Best Prop. This marked an intentional shift by Otaku Konnect to positively impact the cosplay segment in Zimbabwe. We are excited to bring the next phase.

The super discounted phase one ticket comes back offering discounts of up to 50% for both the standard and the cosplay tickets. Cosplay tickets are just $3 while the standard ticket is a sweet $5! A half price discount has never looked this good. The phase one tickets are only available until 15 June 2026 so attendees need to act fast.

Phase 2 opens on the 16th of June 2026 and will be open until 5 August 2026. During this phase the tickets will be $5 for the cosplay and $8 for the standard ticket, offering a 20% discount on the standard tickets. This gives a window of 50 days to get the tickets at a 20% discount.

From the the 6 August, we enter phase 3 where the tickets are the same price as the gate. Advance ticket purchases at this point will be to take advantage of the benefits of advance tickets that include free entry into the raffle and getting a physical ticket that’s a collector’s item.

See you at Otakukon Anime Festival 2026

Sunday 23 August 2026
Moto Republik, 3 Allan Wilson Avenue
10am – 9pm
Available from Click n Pay and The Fan Club

Click n Pay Tickets
Dial *788# and follow the prompts

Buy your tickets via WhatsApp by sending “Hi” to +263785552326

Buy your tickets online via
https://ticketing.clicknpay.co.uk/#/event-details/946

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The challenge kicked off at the start of October, giving participants a new drawing prompt for each day of the week. Each prompt is themed around anime, manga, gaming, or Japanese culture — providing artists with endless opportunities to experiment with style, storytelling, and imagination.

Unlike competitions, #Otakutober isn’t about winning prizes; it’s about progress, consistency, and community. The initiative encourages both beginners and experienced artists to post their daily works online using the hashtag #Otakutober, allowing them to connect, inspire, and learn from one another while growing Zimbabwe’s creative ecosystem.

In just a few weeks, the challenge has already sparked vibrant engagement on social media — with artists sharing fan art, original characters, and manga-style sketches that celebrate everything from classic anime heroes to African-inspired reinterpretations.

By starting this initiative, Otaku Konnect continues its mission to nurture local talent and strengthen Zimbabwe’s pop culture art scene. #Otakutober serves as a fun and motivational platform that celebrates artistic expression while building creative consistency — one drawing at a time.

Whether you’re a seasoned illustrator or just picking up your pencil, there’s no better time to join the movement. Grab your sketchbook, follow the daily prompts, and show the world your art — one day, one drawing, one masterpiece at a time.

Follow @OtakuKonnect on social media for daily prompts and share your work with the hashtag #Otakutober.

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Unstoppable! Bill Masuku’s Kickstarter Blasts Past 200%—Trading Card Pack Almost UNLOCKED!

The support for Bill Masuku‘s latest project is absolutely electric! At the time of writing, we’re thrilled to announce that the Kickstarter campaign for the Southern African Mythology Manga, Tokoloshe Hunters, has not only hit its funding goal but has officially smashed past 200%! This record-breaking feat is all in addition to getting fully funded in under 12 hours. This is an amazing milestone as a African and especially a southern African manga. Tokoloshe Hunters will be published by Etan Comics, who have an impressive track-record of successfully publishing African graphic novels.

This incredible milestone is a massive testament to the talent of the Zimbabwean writer and artist, Bill Masuku, and the global hunger for African-inspired fantasy and mythology. This campaign is a runaway success, and it’s all thanks to the incredible backing from fans across the globe!

Heading for Stretch Goal Two: Get Ready for the Trading Cards!

While hitting 200% is cause enough for celebration, the campaign’s momentum means we are now sprinting toward Stretch Goal Two! At $17,000 raised, the kickstarter unlocks a digital wallpaper and trading card pack. Each backer will receive a FREE Trading Card Pack featuring the characters and creatures from the Tokoloshe Hunters manga!

Imagine holding officially designed, high-quality cards featuring the action-packed monster-fighting heroes and villains inspired by Southern Africa’s wildest and deadliest creatures. This is an exclusive add-on that will make the final reward package even more legendary. We don’t have more details than this at the moment but this is enough to send us reeling!

Why the Hype for Tokoloshe Hunters?

Bill Masuku, the award-winning creator behind critically acclaimed titles like Razor-Man and Captain South Africa, has teamed up with Etan Comics to deliver a gripping story about identity, survival, and redemption.

The Tokoloshe Hunters manga offers over 110 pages of pure action in the beloved Japanese manga format, exploring the rich, often untold, fantasy stories of Africa. What’s more, the creators are proudly championing authentic, human-drawn art, with no use of AI in any part of the creation, ensuring every panel is a genuine labor of love.

If you haven’t pledged yet, there’s still time to become a Hunter and secure your physical or digital copy of this limited-edition hardcover!

Let’s push the campaign to Stretch Goal Two and UNLOCK those trading cards for every backer!

Check out the Tokoloshe Hunters Kickstarter campaign and join the hunt today!

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The Otakukon Winter Invitational brought the heat to the Otakukon Anime Festival (OKAF) 2025 with a fierce Street Fighter 6 double-elimination tournament that drew sixteen of Zimbabwe’s top players. Held as a side event within the festival’s growing gaming track, the Invitational doubled as a thrilling preview of what fans can expect at Button Bash 2026, Otaku Konnect’s dedicated gaming convention slated for April next year. We had so much fun watching the OKAF 2025 Winter Invitation Street Fighter tournament roll out!

Elite Fighters, Familiar Faces

Among the competitors were some of the most exciting names in the local fighting game community. Sasori the Harare Gamer (YouTube), known in competitive circles as Blackstar, brought his trademark intensity and calm focus to the stage. Sonic, who represented Zimbabwe at the prestigious Red Bull Kumite Street Fighter 6 tournament in Cape Town, added a professional edge to the roster, while GalaxyKing K—fresh off a $500 win in Tekken 8 at Button Bash 2025—proved his versatility by switching arenas to take on Capcom’s latest fighter.

Tournament Structure & Highlights

The double-elimination format kept the energy high throughout the day, ensuring every loss had the potential for redemption. The preliminary rounds, now available to watch on YouTube, showcased intense matches filled with clutch reversals, technical play, and crowd-pleasing moments. These opening battles highlighted the depth of talent in Zimbabwe’s esports scene, with both new faces and seasoned veterans making their mark.

Though the main stage finals weren’t streamed, the preliminary footage alone gives a clear picture of the skill level and passion driving the community forward. From Sonic’s disciplined spacing to GalaxyKing K’s explosive aggression, every match reflected a player base hungry to prove itself on a larger stage.

Building Momentum for Zimbabwean Esports

More than just a tournament, the Winter Invitational marked another step in Otaku Konnect’s mission to nurture the Zimbabwean gaming and esports ecosystem. With Button Bash 2026 on the horizon, the Invitational served as both a proving ground and a celebration—bridging casual fandom and competitive play in true Otakukon style.

“The Winter Invitational was about giving our community a space to grow, to compete, and to shine,” said an Otaku Konnect representative. “It’s incredible to see how far local players have come, and we can’t wait to see them clash again at Button Bash next year.”

What’s Next

Fans who missed the live action can relive the excitement by watching the preliminary matches on YouTube. As the road to Button Bash 2026 continues, one thing is clear: the local fighting game scene is stronger than ever, and Otaku Konnect is at the heart of its rise. The next event to expect from Otaku Konnect is Nakamarket in December 2025. Once the dates are announced, we can expect to here great news about gaming at that event.

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